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Show 808 APPENDIX C.- INTRODUCTION. winter quarters and range of Leucosticte tephrocotis. The only specimen previously seen of this bird was obtained by Dr. Richardson on the Saskatchewan. * The reptiles procured are all new, excepting two: of these, one, Holbrookia maculata, was recently described by Mr. Girard, from the Platte, and the other, Phrynotoma douglasii, from Oregon, by Bell. None of the new species have ever been found elsewhere. Among these is the finest species of Cnemidophorus in North America. To Mr. Girard, equally with ourselves, is due the credit of the article on the reptiles, especially for the monograph of Phrynosoma, which is entirely from his pen. Many specimens of insects were procured, but unfortunately injured or lost on the return. The few preserved have been ably determined by Professor Haldeman, as will be seen by his report. The principal entomological result is the precise determination of the destructive grasshopper, which, but for the interposition of a species of tern, at one period was near turning the " Garden of the Mountains" into a desert. Of shells and other invertebrate forms, no specimens were brought in, excepting in too fragmentary a state to admit of determination. By the kind permission of Colonel J. J. Abert, Chief of the Topographical Bureau, so well known for his liberality and love of science, we have been permitted to examine a small but exceedingly interesting collection of birds and mammals, procured by his son, Lieutenant J. W. Abert, in New Mexico. Among them we found a new species of bird and one new mammal, descriptions of which, with lists of the other species, we have subjoined* We have also ventured to include, in the article on reptiles, descriptions of some new species from Oregon, Texas, and New Mexico, collected by officers of the army. With the cheerful acquiescence of Captain Stansbury, we have likewise appended to the article on birds a complete list of all the trans- Mississippi species not included in Audubon's American Ornithology, adding the few found since his time east of this great natural boundary. For assistance in correcting and extending this list, we are under great obligations to Mr. John Cassin, of Philadelphia, who is now engaged in publishing a continuation of Audubon's Ornithology, to include all the species mentioned in it. S. F. BAIRD. |